PSC-Mercator fellow Sergei Schaub and his supervisor Prof. Robert Finger wrote about the question “Ist Diversität im Grasland ökonomisch wertvoll?” in the Agrarpolitik Blog. A topic which Sergei addresses in is PhD project DIVERSEGRASS, which is funded by the Mercator Foundation Switzerland. Read more …
All posts by Luisa Last
PSC-Mercator Alumni co-authored IUCN Report on Oil palm and biodiversity
John Garcia-Ulloa, a PSC Science and Policy alumni, worked on a “Comprehensive Trade-off Analysis of REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation) Implementation”. Based on this work and a secondment within the framework of his fellowship, he co-authored the recently published IUCN report on “Oil palm and biodiversity: A situation analysis by the IUCN Oil Palm Task Force”.
The situation analysis primarily focuses on oil palm in the context of biodiversity conservation based on literature published before 31 January 2018, and aims to provide a constructive pathway to addressing sustainability challenges in the palm oil industry. This report does not assess the social and economic implications of palm oil production and expansion but will refer to these when they are likely to have an impact on biodiversity conservation. Through identification of key knowledge gaps, the situation analysis will also provide direction to the Oil Palm Task Force in terms of seeking to address these knowledge gaps in the remainder of the 2017-2020 Quadrennium. Read more …
Synthetic biology for natural products
A summary of the public panel discussion about Synthetic biology for natural products considering perspectives from academia, policy, public and industry. The panel discussion took place at the Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center (PSC) Symposium “Plants for Health – from research to application” on December 1st, 2016. Read more …
Written by Devang Mehta (ETH Zurich, Plant Biotechnology, Marie Curie IDP BRIDGES fellow)
ISCB Indo-Swiss Collaboration in Biotechnology
Biofertilization and Bioirrigation for sustainable mixed cropping of pigeon pea and finger millet (BIOFI) is a project that combines biotechnology and socio-economic research. The Indo-Swiss Collaboration in Biotechnology (ISCB) released a film showing pictures and insights to the BIOFI meeting in Chennai, India. Members of the PSC as well as network partners are involved. Find the film here …
Lemons or Lemonade? Public engagement with science: relevance and methods
In this one-day symposium, relevance, approaches and examples of successful public engagement with science will be presented. In workshops, we will discuss what can be gained for science in general and for research projects of participants. In two subsequent discussion rounds (Zukunftsforen), will get the opportunity for hands on training in public events. More details …
Bridging Science and Policy – IDP BRIDGES Public Final Event
The Zurich-Basel Plant Center is pleased to invite you to the public final event of the Marie Curie Fellowship program IDP BRIDGES – Bridging Science and Policy.
At this event, we will be featuring a key note talk given by Dr. Marco Lambertini, Director General at WWF International. He will present highlights of the Living Planet Report 2016. He will show how scientific evidence has been integrated in this report and how researchers can actively contribute to WWF. For example, to strategy papers. Moreover, he will define the role of WWF International as an NGO at the interface of policy, science and the civic sector.
Subsequently, the IDP BRIDGES PhD fellows will present and discuss their PhD projects, which they are going to finalize soon. More details …